Crucial Ballistix CLIII5N.32 PN56278
As the retail sales arm of Micron, the huge memory chip manufacturer, Crucial has managed to impress us many times with their high-end Ballistix memory line. The Ballistix name is almost always means high performance, but it also normally represents good value in the memory market.
There is nothing in the appearance of Ballistix memory that would tell you anything about what is behind the orange-colored heatspreaders. All Ballistix memory looks the same and only the stickers on the heatspreaders tell you a little about which Ballistix you have in your hand. Crucial makes Ballistix in 256MB, 512MB, and these 1GB DIMMs. Ballistix DDR is based on Micron chips, which in this case is a very good thing. The Micron memory chips exhibit outstanding performance and overclocking capabilities, and lately, they have only been available through Crucial. This is quite a change from the days when high-performance Micron chips were available from many enthusiast memory makers.
Specifications
The Crucial Ballistix 2GB kit is rated at DDR500 at the somewhat conservative ratings of 3-3-3-8. We actually found that the DIMMs would run at much better timings at DDR500. We could run the DDR500 speed at 2.5-2-2-7 at 2.8V, which is the best performance that we have ever seen at DDR500 with 1GB DIMMs.
Voltage is rated at standard or 2.6V.
Test Results
To be considered stable for test purposes, Quake3 benchmark, UT2003 Demo, Super PI, Aquamark 3, and Comanche 4 had to complete without incident. Any of these, and in particular Super PI, will crash a less-than stable memory configuration.
Crucial Ballistix has been available for several months and the performance characteristics are pretty well known. We achieved incredible results with our Crucial Ballistix, but our results should be considered among the best that you can achieve with these 1GB DIMMs. Where we were able to run at 2-2-2 timings at stock voltage, we more commonly see results at DDR400 of 2-3-2. This is not to take anything away from the Ballistix 2GB kit, as it is definitely an incredible performer at the more normal results that we see in Forums.
One word of caution: some users have been killing their Crucial Ballistix 2GB kits. It appears that the culprit is high memory voltages. We did a survey of a number of Forums and found that, in most cases, the memory was dying at voltages of 2.85V and higher. Our advice, which we also followed in benchmarking for this review, is to keep voltages below 2.85V with the 2GB Crucial Ballistix kits.
The other end of the spectrum was also outstanding for Ballistix. We reached a stable DDR610 overclock at 2.8V with the 2GB kit. This is the highest overclock achieved with any of the nine 2GB kits tested in this review. Our only real reservation with Ballistix is the spotty availability that has characterized this product since launch. This "on again, off again" availability is usually an indication that yields may not be as good as a manufacturer would like. We don't know the real reasons why 2GB Ballistix doesn't stay in stock, but you should be aware of the supply problems before deciding on this 2GB kit.
As the retail sales arm of Micron, the huge memory chip manufacturer, Crucial has managed to impress us many times with their high-end Ballistix memory line. The Ballistix name is almost always means high performance, but it also normally represents good value in the memory market.
There is nothing in the appearance of Ballistix memory that would tell you anything about what is behind the orange-colored heatspreaders. All Ballistix memory looks the same and only the stickers on the heatspreaders tell you a little about which Ballistix you have in your hand. Crucial makes Ballistix in 256MB, 512MB, and these 1GB DIMMs. Ballistix DDR is based on Micron chips, which in this case is a very good thing. The Micron memory chips exhibit outstanding performance and overclocking capabilities, and lately, they have only been available through Crucial. This is quite a change from the days when high-performance Micron chips were available from many enthusiast memory makers.
Specifications
The Crucial Ballistix 2GB kit is rated at DDR500 at the somewhat conservative ratings of 3-3-3-8. We actually found that the DIMMs would run at much better timings at DDR500. We could run the DDR500 speed at 2.5-2-2-7 at 2.8V, which is the best performance that we have ever seen at DDR500 with 1GB DIMMs.
Crucial Ballistix CLIII5N.32 PN56278 Memory Specifications | |
Number of DIMMs & Banks | 2 DS |
DIMM Size Total Memory |
1GB 2GB |
Rated Timings | 3-3-3-8 at DDR500 |
Rated Voltage | Standard (2.6V) Voltage |
SPD | 3-3-3-8 |
Voltage is rated at standard or 2.6V.
Test Results
Crucial Ballistix CLIII5N.32 (DDR500) - 2x1GB Double-Bank | |||||||
CPU Ratio at 2.4GHz | Memory Speed |
Memory Timings & Voltage |
Quake3 fps |
Sandra UNBuffered | Sandra Standard Buffered |
Super PI 2M places (time in sec) |
Wolfenstein - Radar - Enemy Territory fps |
12x200 | 400DDR | 2-2-2-7 2.6V |
545.2 | INT 2601 FLT 2724 |
INT 6082 FLT 6029 |
82 | 118.9 |
11x218 | 436DDR | 2.5-2-2-7 2.6V |
545.0 | INT 2724 FLT 2824 |
INT 6449 FLT 6386 |
81 | 118.8 |
10x240 | 480DDR | 2.5-2-2-7 2.7V |
556.9 | INT 2857 FLT 3033 |
INT 6736 FLT 6656 |
80 | 120.6 |
9x267 | 533DDR | 3-3-3-7 2.7V |
553.8 | INT 2991 FLT 3171 |
INT 6971 FLT 6871 |
80 | 120.3 |
8x300 | 600DDR | 3-4-4-8 2.8V |
561.2 | INT 3186 FLT 3335 |
INT 7173 FLT 7078 |
80 | 121.5 |
9x305 (2.75GHz) |
Highest Mem Speed DDR 610 |
3-4-4-8 2.8V |
618.6 | INT 3420 FLT 3574 |
INT 8000 FLT 7901 |
71 | 135.1 |
Crucial Ballistix has been available for several months and the performance characteristics are pretty well known. We achieved incredible results with our Crucial Ballistix, but our results should be considered among the best that you can achieve with these 1GB DIMMs. Where we were able to run at 2-2-2 timings at stock voltage, we more commonly see results at DDR400 of 2-3-2. This is not to take anything away from the Ballistix 2GB kit, as it is definitely an incredible performer at the more normal results that we see in Forums.
One word of caution: some users have been killing their Crucial Ballistix 2GB kits. It appears that the culprit is high memory voltages. We did a survey of a number of Forums and found that, in most cases, the memory was dying at voltages of 2.85V and higher. Our advice, which we also followed in benchmarking for this review, is to keep voltages below 2.85V with the 2GB Crucial Ballistix kits.
The other end of the spectrum was also outstanding for Ballistix. We reached a stable DDR610 overclock at 2.8V with the 2GB kit. This is the highest overclock achieved with any of the nine 2GB kits tested in this review. Our only real reservation with Ballistix is the spotty availability that has characterized this product since launch. This "on again, off again" availability is usually an indication that yields may not be as good as a manufacturer would like. We don't know the real reasons why 2GB Ballistix doesn't stay in stock, but you should be aware of the supply problems before deciding on this 2GB kit.
51 Comments
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WouT - Wednesday, January 25, 2006 - link
I can confirm:It would be a good idea to mention this in the article as readers should be informed that this memory is not in production and cannot be replaced by the same part anymore.
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Hello, my name is Patrick . How may I help you?
Ewoud Venmans: I am looking for the fastest available 2GB kit for my ASUS A8R-MVP motherboard
Patrick : One moment, please, while I review your inquiry.
The agent is sending you to http://www.crucial.com/store/listparts.asp?model=A...">http://www.crucial.com/store/listparts.asp?model=A....
Patrick : The link provided will take you to a list of memory upgrades that are guaranteed to be compatible, or your money back (shipping not included).
Is there anything else I can help you with?
Ewoud Venmans: Ok, but the speeds are only up to PC3200. I am looking for PC4000.
Ewoud Venmans: Newegg does sell them, but I cannot find these on your site.
Ewoud Venmans: They should work as well, won't they?
Patrick : The parts at the top of the list are PC4000.
Ewoud Venmans: Sorry I only see PC3200 and PC2700 in the list?
Patrick : Yes, you are right. We don't have the PC400 anymore.
Ewoud Venmans: And if I click on performance memory I can only see PC4000 1Gb kits, not the 2Gb kits.
Ewoud Venmans: Ahhh, so if I order those at newegg, I will still have your lifetime guarantee?
Patrick : If you order that product at New Egg, after 30 days you will not be able to get that product, however we will replace with a product like PC3200 or give you a In Store Credit.
Ewoud Venmans: Hmm, so you stopped producing these and won't introduce PC4000 1GB modules anymore?
Patrick : Not in DDR. We will in DDR2.
Ewoud Venmans: Ok, thank you Patrick! You have answered all what I wanted to know.
Patrick : You're welcome. Thank you for visiting Crucial.com, and have a great day.